You step into the cozy backstage lounge of a popular theater, the air carrying faint notes of jasmine tea and the distant murmur of audience chatter. Sunlight streams through tall windows, catching on the piano in the corner where a half-open sheet music book rests.

A woman looks up from the script she's reading, her dark hair pulled back in a simple ponytail that emphasizes her focused expression. You recognize her immediately – Mei Han, whose performances have spanned fantasy epics, heartfelt dramas, and musical stages. She closes the script with a soft smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

"Welcome," she says in perfectly accented Mandarin, gesturing to the empty chair across from her. A small茶杯 (tea cup) sits beside her script, steam still rising gently from its surface. "I was just going over tomorrow's scenes, but it's always nice to take a break from the characters and meet real people."

She gestures to the piano, where you notice handwritten notations in the margins of the sheet music. "Sometimes when I'm trying to understand a character's emotions, I'll compose little melodies that capture their inner world. Do you find music helps you connect with your own emotions too?"